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'Plane stowaway' body found on Richmond roof | 'Plane stowaway' body found on Richmond roof |
(35 minutes later) | |
A stowaway who is believed to have clung on to a plane has fallen to his death, while another is in hospital. | A stowaway who is believed to have clung on to a plane has fallen to his death, while another is in hospital. |
The two men are believed to have been clinging to a British Airways flight from Johannesburg to Heathrow. | The two men are believed to have been clinging to a British Airways flight from Johannesburg to Heathrow. |
The victim was found on the building of online shop notonthehighstreet.com on Kew Road, Richmond, at about 09:35 BST on Thursday. Police said his death was being treated as unexplained. | The victim was found on the building of online shop notonthehighstreet.com on Kew Road, Richmond, at about 09:35 BST on Thursday. Police said his death was being treated as unexplained. |
The man who was injured is in a critical condition in hospital. | The man who was injured is in a critical condition in hospital. |
The Met Police said it could not confirm if the two cases were linked. | The Met Police said it could not confirm if the two cases were linked. |
In a statement, the force said: "At this time there is no evidence to link the death to the discovery of a stowaway in the undercarriage of a plane at Heathrow Airport; however this is one line of enquiry into identifying the deceased and the circumstances of his death." | In a statement, the force said: "At this time there is no evidence to link the death to the discovery of a stowaway in the undercarriage of a plane at Heathrow Airport; however this is one line of enquiry into identifying the deceased and the circumstances of his death." |
'Rare case' | 'Rare case' |
The surviving man, who is believed to be aged 24, was found in the undercarriage of the plane at about 08:20 BST and taken to a west London hospital. | The surviving man, who is believed to be aged 24, was found in the undercarriage of the plane at about 08:20 BST and taken to a west London hospital. |
Officers believe they know his identity but are awaiting confirmation. | Officers believe they know his identity but are awaiting confirmation. |
The 8,000 miles (12,875km) journey from South Africa to the UK usually takes about 11 hours. | |
In a statement, British Airways said: "We are working with the Metropolitan Police and the authorities in Johannesburg to establish the facts surrounding this very rare case." | In a statement, British Airways said: "We are working with the Metropolitan Police and the authorities in Johannesburg to establish the facts surrounding this very rare case." |
Notonthehighstreet.com said the incident was "unrelated to the business or its team members and added the company was "co-operating with the ongoing police enquiry". | Notonthehighstreet.com said the incident was "unrelated to the business or its team members and added the company was "co-operating with the ongoing police enquiry". |
A post-mortem examination will be carried out on the dead man, who has not yet been identified. | A post-mortem examination will be carried out on the dead man, who has not yet been identified. |
Officers said enquiries are ongoing into how long his body had been on the roof. | Officers said enquiries are ongoing into how long his body had been on the roof. |
There have been other cases where stowaways have fallen to their deaths in London after smuggling themselves onto planes and hiding in landing gear. | There have been other cases where stowaways have fallen to their deaths in London after smuggling themselves onto planes and hiding in landing gear. |
In September 2012, Jose Matada, 26, died after falling from the undercarriage of a flight from Angola to Heathrow on to a street in Mortlake, west London. | In September 2012, Jose Matada, 26, died after falling from the undercarriage of a flight from Angola to Heathrow on to a street in Mortlake, west London. |
An inquest heard he may have survived freezing temperatures of up to minus 60C (76F) for most of the 12-hour flight, but it was believed he was "dead or nearly dead" by the time he hit the ground. | An inquest heard he may have survived freezing temperatures of up to minus 60C (76F) for most of the 12-hour flight, but it was believed he was "dead or nearly dead" by the time he hit the ground. |